Pringle, Robert Abercrombie, K.C., one of the leaders of the Ottawa Bar, was born at Cornwall, Ont., December 15, 1855, the son of J. F. and Isabella (Fraser) Pringle. He was educated at the public and high schools of Cornwall, at Queen’s University, Kingston, and Osgoode Hall, Toronto. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1881 and practised in his native town from 1883 until 1911. In 1906 he was created King’s Counsel. In 1911 he removed to the capital and established his present practice, and is head of the firm of Pringle, Thompson, Burgess and Coté, Barristers and Solicitors, Quebec Bank Building, 122 Wellington Street, Ottawa. He has been entrusted by the Federal Government with several important commissions, notably that to inquire into news print prices and the paper industry generally in 1918. Mr. Pringle has also been a prominent figure in the politics of Eastern Ontario and is a lifelong Conservative. As candidate for that party he was elected to the House of Commons for the riding of Stormont in 1900 and proved one of the most useful members of the then Opposition. He was re-elected in 1904, but defeated at the general elections of 1908. In 1911 he was again tendered the party nomination by his own supporters, but having decided to enter into practice in Ottawa, declined. As a member of the House his courteous bearing and solid attainments made him generally liked by colleagues of all shades of opinion. He is an Anglican in religion. His chief recreation is motor boating. He belongs to the Masonic Order and is a member of the following clubs: Rideau, Royal Ottawa Golf and Albany (Toronto). In 1884 he married Ada, daughter of I. H. Vanarsdale, and has two sons. He resides at 232 Daly Avenue, Ottawa.
Scott, William Duncan, Superintendent of Immigration for the Government of Canada, is one of the best known citizens of this country both at home and in other lands. He was born at Dundas, Ont., on October 7, 1861, the son of James and Margaret (McEwen) Scott. He was educated at Dundas High School and subsequently entered a law office with a view to qualifying himself for the legal profession. He did not, however, complete his studies, for the virgin country of Manitoba, which was just then being opened up to the world, called him, as in the case of many another young man, from Eastern Canada. He went West in 1881 at the age of twenty and entered the service of the Canadian Pacific Railway, then in course of construction, and later was employed by the Manitoba Government. In 1887 he was appointed Immigration Agent for that government with offices at Winnipeg. In 1895 he removed to the city of Toronto and continued to act as Immigration Agent for Manitoba in that city, incidentally helping to populate the prairie province with many desirable settlers. His general knowledge of the resources of Canada and his qualities of good-fellowship led to his appointment as Canadian Commissioner at the Paris Exposition of 1899; and from thence until 1903 he acted in a similar capacity at other International exhibitions, at which the Government of Canada was represented by displays and bureaus of information. In the latter year he was appointed Superintendent of the Immigration Branch of the Department of the Interior and removed to Ottawa where he has ever since resided. The period of Mr. Scott’s appointment was that in which immigration to the Canadian North-West not only from Europe but from the United States was at its zenith and he was very active in assisting to build up population in the new provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. In 1911 the post of Chief Controller of Chinese Immigration under treaties newly effected with the Government of China was added to his duties, and he is now the most important factor in all branches of immigration in this country, with a large staff under his control. In addition to his official labors he pursues the calling of a practical farmer. He is a Presbyterian in religion and his recreation is indicated by the fact that he is a member of the Royal Ottawa Golf and Laurentian Clubs. He is also a member of the A.F. & A.M.
Askwith, John E., is Ottawa’s Police Magistrate, to which position he was appointed by the Ontario Government, April 23, 1918. Mr. Askwith was born in Ottawa and, practically, Ottawa has remained his home to this day. For forty years Mr. Askwith was in business as a contractor, both on structural and railway work and the Government Bureau, the Halifax Armory, and many other public buildings bear testimony to his zeal. He has been of considerable benefit and has rendered good services to the city of Ottawa in more ways than one. For eleven years he sat in the City Council as representative for Rideau Ward. He served as Chairman of the Parks Commission and had much to do in the acquisition of Rockliffe Park. In 1901 the Conservatives of Russell County selected him as their candidate for the House of Commons and, while he met with defeat, he gave his opponent a sharp contest. For three years he was President of the Association for the Blind and was and is a hard worker in the interest of the Protestant Old Men’s Home. His contributions to the various Ottawa Public Institutions are numerous and his attentions to them so constant and earnest that he is rightfully called an unmistakeable philanthropist. Following in his father’s footsteps as an enthusiast for Volunteer Military Service, Mr. Askwith served for seven years in the Ottawa Field Battery, and on two occasions marched to the front in defence of home and country. Even now he walks with the military stride. Mr. Askwith was appointed Deputy Magistrate in 1907, and since 1916 up to the time when he received his promotion in March, 1918, had to administer the law alone as during the intervening time Magistrate O’Keefe was too ill to attend Court, and no Deputy was appointed. In addition, as Deputy Magistrate, Mr. Askwith presided over the Juvenile Court, and is doing so even now, and it is owing to his sound judgment and fatherly consideration for erring youngsters that a vast improvement has taken place in the conduct of the Juveniles in the city. In the Police Court as well as in the Juvenile Court he has been stern and wise in his decisions. He metes out law and justice with common sense and discretion and never allows technicalities or quibbles to interfere with his disposal of cases, and he holds the explicit confidence of the public. Magistrate John E. Askwith was born of English parents, in 1841, and was educated in the Little Red School House in Ottawa. On September 26, 1865, he married Annie, daughter of the late John Fotheringham, and has two sons, William R. and John F., who is a Lieutenant in service in France; he is 36 years old and in 1915 enlisted with a company from McGill University to reinforce the Princess Pats, but was transferred to a Western Battalion. He went through several important engagements in which the Canadian Forces took part, including Vimy Ridge; and two daughters Margaret F., and Bessie, who is married to O. E. Culbert, Barrister, Calgary. In religion Mr. Askwith is a Protestant, and in politics a Conservative. He resides at 24 Alexander Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Nickle, William Folger, K.C., B.A. (Kingston, Ont.), was born at Kingston, Dec. 31, 1869, son of William Nickle (Scotch), and Ellen Mary Folger (American). Educated at private schools, Kingston Collegiate Institute, Queen’s University and Osgoode Hall; graduated from Queen’s with degree of B.A. in 1892; called to the Bar, Osgoode Hall, 1895; member of legal firm of Nickle, Farrell & Day, Kingston. He was twice married: first, September 11, 1895, to Agnes Mary, daughter of Joseph McAdam, St. Thomas; second, June 6, 1911, to Katharine Louise, daughter of Rev. D. D. Gordon, Principal of Queen’s University. Five children, William McAdam 1897, Douglas Joseph 1899, Evelyn Marion 1902, Alexander Gordon 1916, and Catherine Maclennan Nickle 1918. He is a member of the following clubs: Kingston, Country, Yacht, Frontenac, The Rideau, Ottawa and the Toronto Club; is also a Mason, Oddfellow and a member of the Sons of Scotland. Mr. Nickle takes an active interest in all amateur sports. He is trustee of Queen’s University, Governor of Kingston Hospital; elected to the Kingston School Board in 1895, City Council in 1896, and again in 1897, for three years. He was member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Kingston from 1908 to 1911, when he resigned seat to contest same constituency at the general election for the House of Commons, and was elected as the Liberal-Conservative candidate, and re-elected at the general elections in December, 1917. He is a Presbyterian in religion. The member for Kingston has played a very active part in the city of his birth and has been prominently identified with the municipal, educational and social life, and has carved a secure place in the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens. He has greatly distinguished himself in public life, for which he has displayed much talent, and his sterling integrity is recognized by his fellow-members in the House of Commons. Mr. Nickle is a forceful speaker, with a convincing style and a pleasing and magnetic personality. His career in the House of Commons has been marked by a spirit of independence and adherence to conviction. In 1913 he took issue with the Government on the granting of certain additional aid to the Canadian Northern Railway; and maintained that if the people had to build the railroads they should own and operate them. His position at that time has since been justified overwhelmingly by public sentiment and the general course of events. In April of 1918 Mr. Nickle once more achieved great prominence as the effective voice of the Canadian people in connection with the titles controversy. He introduced a motion in the House of Commons requesting that representations be made to the Imperial Government that hereafter no hereditary titles should be granted in Canada. In a speech replete with convincing historical detail on the obsolete nature of hereditary honors he also stated his conviction that it would be better if no further titular distinctions of any kind were granted, except those of an officiary character. He felt, however, that public sentiment on the question was not sufficiently ripe to permit him to jeopardize his resolution on the subject of hereditary honors, by making it as wide as his personal views would indicate. Subsequently Mr. R. L. Richardson, M.P. for Richmond, Manitoba, moved a resolution demanding that no titular honors of any kind be granted thereafter. This was defeated on the Prime Minister declaring it to be a want-of-confidence motion. On this motion Mr. Nickle was placed in the peculiar position of having to abandon the Government or his personal convictions, but decided to stick by conviction. Another broad principle that was discussed as a result of Mr. Nickle’s original motion was whether the Government of Canada should not be consulted before titular distinctions were conferred by the Crown on Canadians resident in this country. The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Borden, announced that he had accepted this principle, except in connection with military honors, so that Mr. Nickle may be regarded as having materially aided in checking an abuse which was becoming a cause of public unrest, by precipitating discussion of the matter.
Tory, John A. (Toronto), one of the leading life insurance men of Canada, was born at Guysboro’, N.S., November 17, 1869, the son of Robert K. and Anora (Ferguson) Tory. He was educated at the public school of his native town, at the Guysboro’ Academy and Halifax Business College. He commenced his business career at the age of eighteen as a clerk in the establishment of D. G. Kerm, Antigonish, N.S., where he remained from 1887 to 1890. In the latter year he joined the staff of A. N. Whiten & Sons, Canso, N.S., becoming Manager of the business in 1892. His entry into the insurance field was made in 1895 when he became Inspector of the Sun Life Insurance Company of Canada for West Indies and part of South America. In 1897 he was transferred to Detroit and became manager of the company for the State of Michigan where he remained until 1908, when he was transferred to the management of the Toronto office of the Company. He has been instrumental in widely extending the power and influence of the Sun Life in Canada. Mr. Tory is keenly interested in all movements for social betterment, and particularly in building up a clean and healthy manhood in this country. He is a Director of the Y.M.C.A. and also a member of the Social Service Commission. He is a member of the following clubs in his adopted city: National, Royal Canadian Yacht, Queen City, Canadian, and Empire. His recreations are tennis and motoring, and in politics he is a Liberal. He is a Methodist and on December 28, 1898, married Abbie G., daughter of Dr. Buckley, Guysboro’, N.S., by whom he has two sons. Mr. and Mrs. Tory reside at 17 Elm Ave., Rosedale, Toronto, and have a summer home at Guysboro’, N.S.